Hanger device



C. S. GEHRIE HANGER DEVICE Oct. 19, 1965 2 SheetsSheet 2 Filed March 25, 1964 IN VEN TOR.

CHARLE5 s. GEHFUE FIE-+7 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,212,744 HANGER DEVICE Charles S. Gehrie, Montclair, N..l., assignor to Presto Lock Co., Inc., Garfield, N..l., a corporation of New York Filed Mar. 25, 1964, Ser. No. 354,621 8 Claims. (Cl. 248-317) The invention relates to improvements in hanger devices for foldable garment bags or the like.

Travelling bags of the foldable garment type, or car bags as they are sometimes called, are made with flexible sides and of a length to contain garments in their full length when the bags are in unfolded condition. In folded condition, and to enable carrying of such type of bag, the top end of the bag is located adjacent the bottom end and the portion of the bag to which the handle is attached is located intermediate such ends at the fold in the bag. The top and bottom ends and one side of the center to which the handle is attached are generally reenforced or rigidified with inserts such as wood.

In bags of this type, it is common practice to secure a hook to that end of the bag which is at the top when the bag is in its unfolded condition so that the bag and the garments contained therein may be hung from a suitable support such as a crossbar in a closet, a hook extending from a car wall, over the top edge of a door, or the like. In the prior art hook arrangements, the hook is pivotally connected to the garment bag at a fixed point, and in a manner to permit the hook to be laid down flat against the end of the bag when the bag is in folded condition for carrying by the handle. Generally, means in the form of a tab or flap is provided to hold the hook flat against the end of the bag. The tab or flap is provided with a mating half of a snap fastener, the other half of the snap fastener being secured to the end wall to which the hook is connected.

The prior art fixed pivot form of hook is secured to the garment bag in one of two locations; either midway between the sides of the top end wall or closer to one side of the end wall. With the hook located midway or centrally of the sides, the bag when hung from a support such as a crossbar in a closet, hangs properly; the hook is located at the center of gravity of the bag and its contents. Frequently, however, it is desired to hang the bag over the top edge of a door or on a hook which extends from a vertical wall. Then, the hook connected to the garment bag at the fixed pivotal point must have a length sufficient to reach beyond the side of the bag which engages the vertical surface or wall. In addition to the need for additional material or steel of which the hook is made, the unduly long hook creates a problem when the bag is folded for carrying purposes.

With a comparatively short hook it may be laid down fiat in non-use against the top end wall of the garment bag to which it is secured without projecting beyond the sides and onto the adjacent bottom end wall. The end walls of the type of bag under consideration are provided with reinforcing beads or welting along their edges so that in effect a recess is provided for the laid down hook which is short enough to be confined in such recess. However, with a hook sufficiently long to satisfy the need of hanging the bag from a support on or provided by a vertical surface, the hook in laid down condition projects beyond the side of the end wall, over the edge welts and onto the adjacent or bottom end wall of the bag. This creates a bulge or projection which interferes with the folded bags ability to stand flat upon a fioor without tilting.

To minimize the foregoing condition, a flap of a size suflicient to cover the comparatively long hook member has been used. Such flap must be made of a length to extend across both ends of the bag in order to cover the long hook, and entails the use of a substantial amount of material without eliminating the undesired bulge created by the hooks location over the edge welts.

As previously indicated, the second known location of prior art fixed pivot hooks has the hook connected to the top end of the bag off-center or nearer one side thereof so that the unfolded bag may be hung adjacent a vertical wall or the like without an undue lengthening of the hook. With such location of the book however, the bag and its contents are undesirably tilted when hung from a central support such as a cross bar in a closet.

An object of the invention is to provide a hanger device which, though having a hook member so short in length as to be confined when in non-use between the sides of that end of the bag to which it is connected, is capable of maintaining the bag on its center of gravity when the bag is hung from a centrally located support, while also permitting connection to a support which projects from or is provided by a vertical surface or wall.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hanger device comprising a plate member and a hook member cooperatively related so that the plate member acts to furnish an extension of the hook member.

These, and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of the bottom end of a foldable garment bag in folded condition for the carrying thereof which includes the hanger device of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the hanger device shown in FIG. 1, this view like the showing of FIG. 1 illustrating the hook member in its lain down or out of use condition;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken approximately in the plane of line.33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken approximately in the plane of line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken approximately in the plane of line 55 of FIG. 1, the hanger device being shown in elevation;

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken approximately in the plane of line 66 of FIG. 1, this view however, showing the hook member in position for hanging a garment bag from a support;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the relationship of the parts of the hanger device when the hanger device is used to hang a garment bag from a vertical surface or wall such as a door; and

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, except that the hanger device of the invention is shown when a bag is hung from a central support such as a crossbar.

A hanger device made in accordance with the invention comprises a plate member A and a hook member B. The plate member is made of a rigid material such as steel and provided with a suitable finish such as by plating. The hook member also preferably is made of steel and provided with a suitable finish.

The hook member and the plate member are constructed to provide cooperative means for pivotally or rotatably connecting the hook member to the plate member and for permitting the hook member to be moved bodily with respect to the plate member. Further, the means of the plate member for pivotally connecting and for permitting the hook member to be moved bodily with respect to the plate member serves to accept or absorb a substantial portion of the hook members length in its laid down or non-use position to thereby reduce the extent that the hook member projects from the plate member in such position. In the position of the hook member where it acts to hang a garment bag from a suitable support, the relationship of the hook member to the plate member is such that the plate member is in effect an extension of the hook member so that the hook member may reach a support located beyond a point which could ordinarily be reached by a hook member of such comparatively small length.

In greater detail, the plate member A is preferably generally rectangular in outline and is formed inward of its edges with an upwardly projecting longitudinally extending hollow housing 10. The housing is provided at the top thereof with a longitudinally extending slot 12. While the housing may be made as a separate piece and secured to the plate A by welding or other fastening means, for minimal cost of manufacture it is preferred that the housing and the plate member be made integral with one another. This is accomplished by blanking, drawing and piercing strip metal stock to furnish the illustrated configuration of the plate member.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the housing on the plate member comprises a pair of upstanding, laterally spaced, substantially parallel, longitudinally extending walls 14, 14. A peripheral flange or base portion 16 extends substantially at a right angle to the walls 14, 14 at their lower edges. The walls 14, 14' respectively have inturned flanges 18, 18', the edges of which are laterally spaced to provide the aforementioned longitudinally extending slot 12. The slot 12 extends throughout the full length of the housing 10, and the flanges 18, 18' of the walls extend down to the peripheral flange 16 at the terminal ends 20, 20 of the walls. The peripheral flange 16 is provided with suitably located openings 22 and 22' near its ends so that screws or rivets may be extended therethrough to fasten the hanger device to the end wall of a garment bag. Such fastening means is shown at 24, 24' in FIG. 5.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the hook member B is provided with a hook portion 26 and a straight portion 28. The hook portion may be of the usual semi-circular contour or, if desired, may comprise two sections 30 and 32 extending from the straight portion 28. As illustrated, the section 30 is at an angle of approximately 120 with respect to the straight portion 28, and the section 32 is at an angle of approximately 90 with respect to the section 30. Although the hook member may be made of flat sided stock, it is :preferred that it be made of the usual round wire. The dimension thereof is selected so that its largest diameter is less than the width of the slot 12, as more particularly shown in FIG. 3. For example, the hook wire may be 0.1875 inch in diameter and the slot 12 may have a width of 0.20 inch. As shown in FIG. 2, the length of the straight portion 28 is not less than the length of the slot 12. l i

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, connection of the hook member to the plate member is accomplished by means 34 at the plate end of the straight portion 28 of the hook member. Such means has a dimension greater than the width of the slot 12. Although a ring member may be fastened to the end of the hook member to increase the diameter at this area and to furnish the connecting means, it is preferred to simply upset or peen the end of the hook thereby making the connecting means an integral part of the hook member.

To assemble the hook member B with the plate member A, the smaller diameter hook member is passed from the bottom of the plate member A up through the slot 12, the section 32 of the hook member passing first through the slot. The end 34 of larger diameter engages the underside of the flanges 18, 18 to capture the end of the hook between the walls 14, 14' as shown in FIG. 6. The hook member is now pivotally connected to the plate member in a manner which permits the hook member to move bodily anywhere along the length of the slot 12, and for the pivot point of the hook member to the plate member to be shifted linearly along the length of the slot. The extent of movement of the hook member with respect to the plate member is limited by the flange portions at the ends of the walls at 20, 20'.

As shown in FIG. 1, the hanger device comprising the described plate member A and hook member B is secured to the top end 36 of a folded travelling bag adjacent to what will be the bottom end 38 when the bag is in the unfolded condition as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. .The garment bag itself does not form any part of the present invention but will be described generally for a better understanding of the hanger device of the invention. The garment bag is provided with a plurality of feet or bumpers 40 on the top end 36 and with bumpers 42 on the bottom end 38 to engage a floor or the like when the bag is in the folded condition for carrying as shown in FIG. 1. The bag is also provided with the usual reinforcing welting or beads 44 along its edges thereby providing a shallow recess at each end of the bag. As is common in the art, the top and bottom ends 36 and 38 are each provided with a rigidifying insert such as a wood panel 46 (FIGS. 5 and 6). The panels are covered by the exposed fabric layer 48 and the lining 50 of the bag. Similarly, but not shown, a rigidifying reinforcement is provided at the side of the bag 52 midway of its length to permit the secure attachment of a handle. Also, as is common in the art, and as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the bag is provided with the usual catch 54 for cooperation with a hasp 56 to separably connect the sides of the bag when in folded condition for carrying. Also, as is common in the art, and as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a mounting plate 58 is positioned on the inside of the bag beneath the panel providing the top end 36 from which a pair of spaced brackets 60, 60 are suspended to receive clothes hangers. The hanger device of the invention is secured to the opposite side of the reinforcing panel 46.

As shown in FIG. 1, it is preferred to secure the hanger device of the invention off-center or closer to one side of the end wall 36. The hook member B of the hanger device in its lain down or retracted condition has a substantial portion thereof received between the longitudinally extending walls 14, 14 (FIG. 2). Such relationship of the hook member with respect to the plate member obtains because the straight portion 28 of the hook member has a dimension less than the width of the slot 12 and the hook member may be lain down flat between and in parallelism with the side walls 14, 14' and the plane of the peripheral flange 16. As a result, a hook member which hasan effective length a (FIG. 2) of four (4) inches may well be confined within the recess provided by the welts 44 at the sides of the top wall 36. The top walls of the type of bags under consideration generally have a dimension 'b (FIG. 1) of approximately five (5) inches. In such lain down condition, only a small tab 62 with a snap fastener is needed to separately hold down the hook B.

When it is desired to hang the bag from a support provided by a vertical surface such as over a door as shown in FIG. 7, the longitudinally movable pivotal connection of the hook member to the plate member permits'the hook member to slide between the walls 14, 14' to the position where the hook member is located at the end of the slot. In this manner, the hook member which, as shown in FIG. 1, is short enough to be confined Within the sides of the wall to which it is attached, may reach over the edge of a door or be supported from a hook extending from a vertical surface. With a plate A having a length 0 (FIG. 2) of 2.75 inches, the slot 12 may have a length of two (2) inches to accept or absorb two (2) inches of the hook member B in its laid down condition. The length of slot adds to the effective length of the hook member when in position for hanging a bag as shown in FIG. 7.

When it is desired to hang the bag from a central support, such as a cross rod 66 as shown in FIG. 8, the hook member or the bag may be moved to the center of gravity of the bag so that the bag and its contents may hang without tilting. Temporary stop means in the form of an indentation or dimple 68 (FIGS. 2 and 5) is formed in the flange portion 18 of an upstanding Wall. Preferably a pair of opposed dimples 68, 68 are provided in opposite walls. The weight of the bag and its contents acts to releasably maintain the hook member at such stop means.

It is believed that the advantages and improved results provided by the hanger device of the invention will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention. It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as sought to be defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A hanger device for foldable garment bags or the like comprising a plate member, said plate member having an upwardly projecting, elongated housing having substantially greater length than width, a longitudinally extending slot in the top of the housing extending the entire length of the housing, and a hook member having a hook portion and a straight portion providing the effective length of the hook member, the straight portion being of a length not less than the length of said slot and of a crosssectional dimension less than the width of the slot, means at the plate end of said straight portion of a dimension greater than the width of said slot positioned within the housing to connect the hook member to the housing, whereby a longitudinally movable pivot connection of the hook member to the plate member is provided which adds the length of the slot to the effective length of the hook member when the hook member is raised to a position to hang a garment bag or the like, the straight portion of the hook member being receivable within the slot lengthwise of the housing to the extent of substantially half the effective length of the hook member.

2. A hanger device for foldable garment bags or the like comprising a rigid plate member formed inward of its edges with an integral, upwardly projecting, elongated housing portion having substantially greater length than Width, a longitudinally extending slot in the top of the housing portion extending the entire length of the housing portion, and a hook member having a hook portion and a straight portion providing the effective length of the hook member, the straight portion being of a length not less than the length of said slot and of a cross-sectional dimension less than the width of the slot, means at the plate end of said straight portion of a dimension greater than the Width of said slot positioned within the housing portion to connect the hook member to the plate member, whereby a longitudinally movable pivot connection of the hook member to the plate member is provided which adds the length of the slot to the effective length of the hook member when the hook member is raised to a position to hang a garment bag or the like, the straight portion of the hook member being receivable within the slot lengthwise of the housing portion to the extent of substantially half the effective length of the hook member.

3. A hanger device for foldable garment bags or the like comprising a rigid plate member having substantially greater length than width, a pair of rigid, laterally spaced, substantially parallel, elongated walls extending substantially the full length of and upstanding from the plate member, said walls each having an inturned flange the edges of which are laterally spaced to provide a longitudinally extending slot, and a hook member having a hook portion and a straight portion providing the effective length of the hook member, the straight portion being of a length not less than the length of said slot and of a crosssectional dimension less than the width of the slot, means at the plate end of said straight portion of a dimension greater than the width of said slot positioned intermediate said walls connecting the hook member to the plate member, whereby a longitudinally movable pivot connection of the hook member to the plate member is provided which adds the length of the slot to the effective length of the hook member when the hook member is raised to a position to hang a garment bag or the like, the straight portion of the hook member being receivable between and in parallelism with said walls to the extent of substantially half the effective length of the hook member.

4. A hanger device for foldable garment bags or the like comprising a rigid plate member having substantially greater length than width and formed inward of its longitudinal edges with a pair of integral, upstanding, laterally spaced, substantially parallel, elongated walls extending substantially the length of said plate member, said walls each having an inturned flange the edges of which are laterally spaced to provide a longtudinally extending slot, and a hook member having a hook portion and a straight portion providing the eifective length of the hook member, the straight portion being of a length not less than the length of said slot and of a cross-sectional dimension less than the width of the slot, means at the plate end of said straight portion of a dimension greater than the width of said slot positioned intermediate said Walls, flange portions at the ends of the walls providing end stops for engagement by said means, whereby a longitudinally movable pivot connection of the hook member to the plate mem ber is provided which adds the length of the slot to the eflective length of the hook member when the hook member is raised to a position to hang a garment bag or the like, the straight portion of the hook member being receivable between and in parallelism with said walls to the extent of substantially half the effective length of the hook member.

5. A hanger device as set forth in claim 4, wherein the plate member is formed to provide means for securing the hanger device to a garment bag or the like.

6. A hanger device as set forth in claim 4, wherein the plate member is formed with a through opening between the upstanding walls.

7. A hanger device as set forth in claim 4, wherein the means at the plate end of the hook members straight portion is formed by upsetting the end 'of the hook member.

8. A hanger device as set forth in claim 4, wherein at least one of said upstanding walls is indented to provide means to limit longitudinal movement of the hook member with respect to the plate member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,052,932 9/36 London 206-7 2,154,161 4/39 Heckman 248308 2,532,255 11/50 Davis 248215 2,743,894 5/56 Ostnas 2483 17 3,082,990 3/63 Nelson 248-308 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A HANGER DEVICE FOR FOLDABLE GARMENT BAGS OR THE LIKE COMPRISING A PLATE MEMBER, SAID PLATE MEMBER HAVING AN UPWARDLY PROJECTING, ELONGATED HOUSING HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER LENGTH THAN WIDTH, A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SLOT IN THE TOP OF THE HOUSING EXTENDING THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE HOUSING, AND A HOOK MEMBER HAVING A HOOK PORTION AND A STRAIGHT PORTION PROVIDING THE EFFECTIVE LENGTH OF THE HOOK MEMBER, THE STRAIGHT PORTION BEING OF A LENGTH NOT LESS THAN THE LENGTH OF SAID SLOT AND OF A CROSSSECTIONAL DIMENSION LESS THAN THE WIDTH OF THE SLOT, MEANS AT THE PLATE END OF SAID STRAIGHT PORTION OF A DIMENSION GREATER THAN THE WIDTH OF SAID SLOT POSITIONED WITHIN THE HOUSING TO CONNECT THE HOOK MEMBER TO THE HOUSING, WHEREBY A LONGITUDINALLY MOVABLE PIVOT CONNECTION OF THE HOOK MEMBER TO THE PLATE MEMBER IS PROVIDED WHICH ADDS THE LENGTH OF THE SLOT TO THE EFFECTIVE LENGTH OF THE HOOK MEMBER WHEN THE HOOK MEMBER IS RAISED TO A POSITION TO HANG A GARMENT BAG OR THE LIKE, THE STRAIGHT PORTION OF THE HOOK MEMBER BEING RECEIVABLE WITHIN THE SLOT LENGTHWISE OF THE HOUSING TO THE EXTENT OF SUBSTANTIALLY HALF THE EFFECTIVE LENGTH OF THE HOOK MEMBER. 